Fence



(-No Model.)

' A. N. LE FLAMBDY.

FENCE.

No. 563,042. Patgnted June 30, 1896.

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ANDREW B GRAHAM PHOTCI-Lm10 WASHINGI'DNDC UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ASA N. LE FLAMBOY, OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,042, dated June 30, 1896.

3 Application filed February 23, 1895. Serial No. 589,410. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASA N. LE FLAMBOY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Logan and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Fence, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in fences.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of fences, and to provide an ornamental wire fence of great strength and durability, capable of being readily erected, and adapted to be quickly taken apart when it is desired to remove the fence.

A further object of the invention is to enable ornamental scrolls and the like to be readily applied to rod or wire fences in a substantial manner, without weakening them, and to enable a post when worn or rotted to be readily replaced by a new one, without disturbing the other posts or parts of the fence.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a fence constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of one of the posts. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the fence, the section being taken through one of the ornamental scrolls or pickets. Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the top portion of the fence, taken longitudinally through the horizontal top scrolls or ornaments thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the foot-pieces or supports of the ornamental pickets. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the central brackets for supporting the top scroll of the fence. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the end supports or brackets. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of the vertical flanged bar of the end post. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the cap of the post. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the bottom portion of the post.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of'the drawings.

1 designates end and intermediate posts, each comprising a rectangular or other shaped or braces 6, extending from the socket 4 of the lower portion 3 of the post to the cap 5. The lower portion of the post is provided with longitudinal and transversely disposed flanges, the former being longer or of greater width than the latter.

. The cap 5 is composed of two sections, a lower section, which is provided with perforations to receive the upper terminals of the truss-rods or braces 6, and an upper section 7, detachably bolted to the lower section. The upper and lower sections are provided with similar curved grooves 8, forming a cylindrical opening for the reception of a top rail 9, which is preferably constructed of tubular metal, but which may be of any other desired configuration.

The truss-rods or braces 6 are provided at their lower ends with heads 10, and are detachably interlocked with flanges of the lower portion 3 of the post, such flanges being provided with recesses or notches 11 for the reception of the rods, and the heads being arranged at the lower faces of the flanges. The upper ends of the truss-rods 6 are provided with nuts 12 and are passed through the perforations of the cap, and the nuts 12 engage the cap, whereby the parts of the post are firmly clamped together. This construction also permits the wooden portion 2 of the post to be readily moved when desired, without interfering with the rest of the fence. The lower section of the cap is provided with a seat for a key 5 to engage the top rail 9, and the latter is further locked by collars 5", arranged on opposite sides of the posts and provided with set-screws for clamping the top rail 9, whereby all the posts mutually contribute to support the top rail and the rest of the fence.

The longitudinal top rail 9 of the fence is supported in the openings of the caps of the posts, but in event of employing a rectangular top rail the same can be clamped on the top of the upper portion 2 of the post by means of the caps and the truss-rods, the caps being arranged on the upper faces of such rails.

Horizontal fence wires or rods 13 may be secured to the vertical edges of the upper portions 2 of the posts, when such portions are constructed of wood, but when the entire post is constructed of metal, slots or openings or the like for the fence wires or rods are preferably arranged at the centers of the upper portions of the posts. By arranging wires at the edges of wooden posts and stapling them the staples. may be withdrawn to permit the wooden portion to be removed when desired, and such removal does not interfere with the other posts or the tension of the wires.

Each wire or rod may be provided with an ornamental turnbuckle 14 for regulating the tension, and the terminals of the wires adjacent to end posts, gate-posts, and the like are secured to vertical bars 15, connected at intervals with the adjacent end posts by horizontal rods or bolts 16, having their inner ends threaded and provided with nuts 17 for engaging the vertical bars 15. Each end post is provided with the vertical bar 15, having flanges 19, and provided with countersunk perforations for the reception of tapering heads 20 of the longitudinal rods or wires 13,

Vertically-disposed ornamental scrollwork pickets 21 are attached to the fence-wires by means of a back strip or bar 22 and connecting-bolts 23, the back strip or bar 22 being provided at intervals with grooves for the reception of the horizontal fence-wires. Each ornamental picket is supported at the bottom by an adjustable base 24:, and each base or foot-piece 24 is provided with a vertical flange 25, having a vertical slot and receiving a bolt 26, passing through the lower end of the picket and provided with a clamping-nut. By these means the base or foot piece may be raised or lowered to suit any inequality in the ground, and the ornamental picket is supported and all strain is taken from the fencewires.

The upper end of the ornamental picket is secured, by means of a bolt 23, to a depending arm 28 of a central bracket 29, which is provided with a circular opening 30 for the reception of the tubular top rail 9, and which is provided with a vertically-disposed opening 31, adapted to receive a top ornamental piece or scroll 32. Any number of top ornamental pieces or scrolls may be employed, and they are supported at their terminals by end brackets of ornamental form, having central circular openings 34 to receive the top rail 9, and provided at the bottom of its opening 3% with a notch 35 for the reception of a wedge-shaped key 35 or the like for engaging the top rail 9, wh ereby the end bracket is securely clamp ed at any desired position on the fence. At the top of the central opening is arranged a recess or opening 37, adapted to receive one end of an ornamental top piece 32 or the adjacent ends of a pair of top pieces. By this arrangement the ornamental top pieces are detachably and firmly secured in position on the fence, and the top rail 9 and the ornamental picket 21 mutually contribute to support and strengthen the fence.

Ornamental corner-pieces 38 may be secured to the fence-Wires by means of a back .piece and connecting-bolts similar to the ornamental pickets, and it will be readily apparent that any design and arrangement of the ornamental parts may be employed. The central top ornament or scroll is provided with recesses or notches to interlock with the central bracket 29, and the end ornamental top pieces 40 need not have vertical pickets for supporting them. In constructing a fence, scrolls may be arranged in contact with the fence to connect the top rail rigidly with each fence-post to dispense with the collars 5 It will be seen that the fence is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it may be rapidly erected, and that the ornamental parts are also applicable to gates and the like, and that other styles and forms of ornamental pickets, top pieces, and the like may be readily applied to wire fences by means of the construction shown and described.

Ohanges in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages ofCthis invention.

What I claim is p 1. In a fence, the combination of the lower portion 3 of the post adapted to be driven into the ground and provided at its top with a socket, the upper portion 2 of the post having its lower terminal fitted in said socket, a cap arranged on top of the post and composed of two separable sections provided with corresponding grooves,forming a rail-opening, fastening devices connecting the sections of the cap, and the truss-rods located at opposite sides of the post, and connected detachably to the lower portion thereof and to the lower section of the cap, and securing the terminals of the upper portion of the post, in the said socket and in the cap, substantially as described.

2. In a fence, the combination of fence wires or rods, a vertically-disposed ornamental piece, a back piece secured to the ornamental piece and provided with grooves receiving the fence wires or rods, and an adj ustable foot-piece,substantially as described.

3. In a fence, the combination of a fencepost, a top rail, horizontal fence wires or rods, a vertically-disposed ornamental picket, a center bracket having an opening to receive the top rail and provided with a depending arm connected with the picket, said bracket being provided at its top with an opening, a top ornamental piece arranged on the top rail and fitting in the opening at the top of the bracket, and end brackets mounted on the top rail and supporting the ends of the with openings receiving the same and haw ing at the upper face of the rail recesses, receiving the ends of the ornamental top piece, and keys located at the lower face of the top rail, and interposed between the latter and the bottoms of the openings of the brackets, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ASA N. LE' FLAMBOY.

Witnesses:

W. R. GILCHRIST, JOSEPH GILLEsPIE. 

